Torpedo-launching apparatus.



R. H. GOLDSBOROUGH. TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30. ISIS. 1,245,334.

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Mss.

R. H. GOLDSBOROUGH. TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3o. IsIs.

Patented N ov. 6, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. HI GOLDSBOROUGH. TURPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3o. w15.

" geo.

; Be it known that LJRICHARDfI-I. GOLDS- i BORQUGH," `a citizen of the United States,re-

. wsidingCat Washington, inthe Districtfof Columbia, haveinvented or discovered cer- V tain@ new and` useful ,Improvements in; Tor-` pedo-LaunchingApparatus of which the followmg iis a speciiicationreference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. E This:` invention relates to mechanism apf i sive or defensive-.vessels or` structures for, andling 1 and directing torpedoes andA the i I"V3 like, and has for its general object the pro. y vision: of jimprovedmeans whereby such torpedoesrzmay: `be.conveniently and `safely` 1. `placed `in. discharging position, accurately aimed `or directed in accordancewithzthe distance and bearing of thetarget, andV dis- 2e charged, `said means being adapted to permitthe discharge of a torpedo in any direction through a wideuarc so as accurately to reach its desiredtarget irrespective of the relative positions of said target and the vessel or otherstructure `from which said torpedo is discharged.` i.

...Tlie foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the saniemay be carried into effect, will best be understood fromthe following description y "trated ,in the accompanying drawings.` It `willbefunderstood, however, that the` parf ticular construction described and shown has j "beenchosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention, as defined, by the claims hereunto appended, may be otherwise practised without departing from the lspirit `and scope thereof.` i

lnsaid drawings: M n Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation and partly broken away, ofonecomplete unit of the apparatus as `applied tol a submarine vessel. 1.145 f wFig; `2 is a vertical section of one ofthe periscopes fof said vessel.. `and `associated parte constituting aiportion of the alti i scopic` sighting and :aiming or `directing mechanism. y Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged horizontal sections on `thelines 3-3,1.44, `-and `(3f-6, respectively, Fig. 2. w Y Fig. 7 is a partial transverse vertical sectionvof the torpedo `turret or cradle:

"wl55fcewFig. S is a` fragmentary vertical section,

ablewto submarineboats and other of-Y `ofnone `form or `embodiment thereof illus-.5

STATES PATENT QFFIGE "Goniisioaouern on orifooLUiuBrA. l i `'roitPnDo-Liinivenrivef AriARA'rns.' y y l y y .Spbiainf Lettrsaentfiff; Patented ov. 6,1917.` y Appiieationyaieaiiprnao, isis. serial No.2`4,9`4s.1; i

onda somewhat reducedscale, of` certain parts shown at thebottom of Fig.,1,;illus.

tr-ating` these parts in al different position.

F ig.` 9 is a detail `Vertical sectional view of the means` for expellingl a torpedo from the -l oading lock and placing `the same in position in the turret or cradle."

.i Fig. 1Q `is adetail plan `view of the graduv ated arc upon which the adjustment of theI directing mechanism islindicated. L ,111 i's afdiagrammaticplan lView of a comp ete submarineor other vessel equipped- Wthfourunitsofithe apparatus. Y n AReferring to Fig. 1, 15 denotes thebottom of a submarineor otheryesselhaving agkeel 16,;and 1 7; aninteriordeck or floor.`

i 18 (se e also Figs..7 8, 9and `11.) denotes torpedoes each rovided with theusual pro... pellers 19 and inghead 20.

Said torpedoes are` directed by and discharged fromya rotary or diriofible turret orcradle 21 havinga torpedo tri-be 22 pref-` erablyproVidedatits lower side with suit-v ablerollers 26 to facilitate the introduction of torpedoes thereinto and their discharge therefrom. As shown said turret or cradle is of a atcylindrical form with itsupper and lower .plane `faces arranged substantially horizontally, the tube 22` being also substantially horizontal and extending dia-r metrically through said turret fromside to side, -The turret or cradle A21 iscarried` by afvertical stein or shaft 23 extending upwardly. from thel center of the` upper face thereof and by means of which said turret orcradle may be turned on a vertical axis andl raisedor loweredinto `and out of a suitably formed chamber or housing 24 formedin the bottom ofthe vessel and open to the water. The stem or shaft 23 extends upwardly through a suitably packed bearing 25 inthe top of the chamber 24E, said stem` being rotatable and longitudinally movable in'said' bearing by mechanism hereiiiafter` described. The torpedoes are deposited in the torpedo `tube 22, when the :turret or cradle 21 israised `into loading position in the cham-` berg24f, as shownin Fig. 8, through a cylindrical loading chamber or lock 27 provided with annular packings 28 adapted to engage a torpedo in said lock and make a substan-` tially water-tight joint therewith. Thelock 27 is `adapted to be closed at its inner and outer endsrespectively by sliding.v gates 29 soI en@ e.o.etereteety1tvee am@ a bracket 83 Secured to thetop 0f the .10.0.1527- s fryvardlend fof torped' 18 ilsfthe ed into the-look127 g as shown in gate" 30 and-the*torpedo..moved'imafdlyr Said llevers".i are actuatedand ;oontrolled,H re? speotively;V bamgrooyes in" a dOlbIe-Lfbed path @am 34 journaled in thefbr-aoket arid.- operatively connected, as by a sprocket chalii 35e Wth a* lla-11d Wheel Q11 other 469.1494? The' arrangement ftli 'grooves in the ca 34 is suoli that, as said cami's turned from the position lshown in Fig. r1, the outer gate 30' W'illfjfir'stbe openedi Willbe h'eld open While" vii-ded 'with `anf-inwardlyclosingcheck-.valve 38 vvvholol cooperates 'with the fend; 'ofatsleevef Tte the inner* gatef29/ *asf sho'wiilin 'Eig'- torpetlo forming-f Substantially-:Wett f ht jointe; ywith ',thewell of een 'leekv 'through the 'packir'ig' rings28f The car'r'i`134 tornade suieient'distanoeto open the outer thr'oufghjthe look and partly into theftolfpedo ftuloe'aa'ntoithe postionshown iin-Figi. 8; "Tlie'eainf 34 `isthen fnrther'trned to lose 'theinner gateY 29. Theexpelling todv 41 is t thereafter inserted throigh-tl'ie 'slee'lfe'- 439:,-

opjenitgj ther-valve asendi by engagement with "the "end"fr ofr thef propeller torpedollS; moving 'said torpedo ont-of theY lof-k2? and entirely-intatte totpedo'tlbefaa The torpedo isv preferably sof somewhat 'lesslegth-than the torpedoes it 'efrl tended to accommodate',- thej chamber: or

lioilsing24n being formedr Withfan extension 43 ,to receive theforw'arol end of atorpedoin sad'itorpedb tbelwhen'thelturret orl cradle engaged `at opposite end by t'grojeotlonv or head 45' on the outerigateQ YWhenltlie late y, ing afod 147 carted'bythe arm 42am-interposedy betiveen `af`'he"ad on" 'said rpd and; a braelet 48 on thelock'nan .said sprmgaetlng normally [to fraise thej'ain t2-when diseni gag'ed by. the#head] 45v when the .gateo is open.,y 49 'denotes alstoppin carried'. bythe ai'mfi42 and ff'sliding ina y'suitably' packed op'cl/ning!irnltheA Wall of' the-'lockV 27 Wh'elle tljio' gate `30 is closed: anol.. the1endlof Ithe'aarin 42 engagedfbyif the head"45;:aszeshowni in etvv torpedo .i Y l by prisesgarigidfverticalicasingl'rinclosingthe the Vved...llrmardly into 'the nterorvof the lock `side""0f the head Ofia`t0pd` -isrted into said. chamber .andvprevent the same from be- 'nydffo'ra'dly al suicient distance to causeothegring pin 2O thereof t0A engagenthe gate 3U aiidaccidentally explode said rtor- .,pedde -.Wlientheggate 3() is open the spring 46 raises'the stop pin' 49, thereby permittin said torpedo to ,be ,movedgdnta the -ftorpedl tiibee22 asaboveg'eplaned? `F0 'lrplil'ar:prposestop.v the 'Walls of .they :extension 435;.sazid':

f beingadapted by .engagement -With Y the l.sides f-lthe head-of l'the Y.torpedo to. pre.` e veilt th'el 'firing pinfjQOl g fro1n being4 :brought nto'angagemfent yv-i-thf" heg end Wall'of saidV extension; .a

6,7.. perisrcopefloi5 I SAO saidealtscopeafproperjupon;said trnnnions. 541V 'denotes' micrometer carried :byfxthe Vcase:`

in'gliandConnected With. .thev altiscope' 52 ad] @centi `its` :lower-vend, .,Whereby" said altiscope; may bezadjnsted .on its :t'runnions...53,

tlle-adjnstmentfindieated. 'fg

e particular ycolistituotio i1 O the altis'oop'e-lproper. .52 `is. vsusceptible Vof considerable varationel lEssentially said alti'scope comprises an upright tiibLe-Lprovided near its" base 'Withanbcular'155into,which the image oa target Will..be[reflectedpby. means of prisms 56 .and r57k, the. image of the. target entering 'the altiscope "at: the: .receiver- 58and 'theificeb'einlg reflected y,downward through forming'arifangleof",QOFJQWithlthat oflthe y vertical. .portielil-of:thel altiscop'e, the reflectsuipface: bf'the prism. 56 being arranged ataLVanglepf 45.05' to'j both; As'herein th'e :Vertical tube of the ia-ltiseope, is provided With an objectiye. lesew'60e and with one or more reversing-.lenses 615,.While the' ociilalf .-55 is kprovided; with..V ai` suitable len`sef62,-ftheJ Whole onstitliting a multiple inversion telescope.,4 59 .denotesl a plain; glass diskor zone platerlocat'ed:i'n'thefupp'erffocal planeof thainstrument, that isto'jsay, the

me45-gasa `beingllocated` in a lower focal plane, l" thtis to say in the focalrplane of one of the outside `the casing 51, for adjusting `the cross hftirsi'B in order to compensate forrefracof said target toV be establishediin accordL ance with the principles more fully `ex- 15 plainedinmy priorfapplication No. 15,843, above referred to. For the purposes of the r1 resent specification these principles may be briefly explained as follows. M i In the case of a submarine vessel, for eX- 2o "ample, the vessel beingon an even keel, as i shown hy the leveling devices with which V `said yesselis-or maybe equipped, and the l depthwofffsubmersionbeing shown by the d ipressuregages, the altiscopeis sighted',' by 25]rneans`I of its horiiontal cross hair, upon the ar at" thefwater line. ,y Preferably, al'-` io h`^not necessarily, the depth of sublersion `will be-such asfto bring the `water "ne `at the level of the trunnions 53.` `A

whiehlthe two flegsjarefthe axis of the alti- "wseopeflabove the vvaterline and the lineof fsightflfromthefobjective tothe,1 targetyrei, spectively, `wlciile-the hypotenuseis the hori* EV fZonta-l lilnefrom the altiscope to the target. iflhe `length ofthe shorter leg (namely, the w 1 height of thealtiscope `from the water line to the centerof the reflectingfsurface ofthe upper p'risrn) being known, and the angle includedbetween said leg andthe hypotheilength of saidl hypotenuse, which is the i desired` rangefm'ay readily'bedetermined `by `well known trigonometric formula.

Q1 lthroughttheupper deck of the vessel-(not uluarplatform 68 provided vvithtrol'lers 69 which rrun` on acirculartrack 7 0 carriedfby he @deck or iioor 127, the-whole V constituting g 'may beitur'ned on its verticalf axis. x71 lenotes "a vertical Wsle'eve "or cylindrical ournalkextending `upwardly from y said floor 'Jdeck`l7 and supportingitheiibase (6 7 ofthe iltiscop'e `casing through the medium of a ll or roller bearing 72. i i

i 15M w ltlscop'ecasingffisloperatively cont `lenses 61L` 64 denotes means, accessiblefrom onorto apply other necessary corrections.` hewadjustment ofthe altiscope 52 on its .vertical `right'triangle` is thus formed', of

nusebeingmeasured the micrometer 54, f

Thelaltiscope easing 51 extends upwardly liown)` in a mannersimilar. to the periscopes a turntable upon which said laltiscope casnectedfwith the torpedo turret or cradle 21 in such a manner that when the altiscope is turned on itsuverticalaaxislto sightithe same upon,` any desinedatarget the torpedo tube will be properly aimed at said target. To this "endl the following construction; is provided.` v ,i i i i The shaft or stem 23 by which thetorpedo turret or cradleis supported` is formed hollow to `receive .the `lower `end of a spindle 73 which i extends downwardly Vfrom the 'altif i scope casingA 51` in alinement therewith, and

.within the sleeve 7l;VV ,"Said spindle `73 ispro1 videdifora, limited distance at itsupper `end with longitudinal grooves `74 which receive interior splines :or feathers 7 5` at theupper endoff the stem` or hollow shaft The construction is such. that saidistem or shaft23 `is lguided?for vert-ical movement on tlieespindle 73', so. as to telescope therewith, said movement being: limited# by .the length of ,the grooves 71l, and 'is' connected with said spindle `fior rotation therewith in all Vpositions. f i i Forvertically movingA the-` stem; or hollow 'shaft 23 in order toiraise and lower the torpedo turret or cradle into loading and; dischanging positions, respectively, said shaft .or` stem is'pnovided with aseries of annular flflanges 7 6i constituting rack teeth adapted,

in all"angular positions of said stemor Ishaftyto" mesh "with pinions 77 carried `by shafts 7 8 j @urna-led. in .brackets 79 supported on a suitablefplatform omfloor 80 withinthe vessel.` Each of tlief shafts I78wcarries one 'of lapair ofV in termeshing` gearsnSl, one of which' is operatively `connected, through suitable gearing, with a suitable actuator,

herein shown as an electric motor 82. `Said Lelectric y11`notor-energized from any suit- .able:-sourc'e` ofxelectric power, herein shown las Va battery S32-connected with said motor through suitable wiring 84', and is controlled Aby `means lof a suitable buttonor switch 85 arranged within. convenient reach of an operatoren the platform 68.

For simultaneously turning the `altiscope andcradleluponl a verticalaxlslin order to sight-fthetargetfland aim the torpedo tube the foil-owing mechanism is provided '86 denoteslja horizontally disposed wormwheel `journaled "and: supportedl l at its: lower side uponthe bearing 25andawitsupper vside in a bracket 87v carried on Afthe' `ftop` ofiythe ehamsplinedtotheilstenrinsueh afinanlner as i to rotate `therewith permitting .longitudinal movemenltzof saidi'stem.` 88` denotes `a worm coperatingwith the worrn-wheel86 and connectedfby gears 89 with any suitable actuator, herein1 shown "as an electric motor QO-supplied with' current through suitablewviresQl from 'the battery 83=and controlled by a 'button or switch 92 "also arrtfniged in convenient A@position adiacent Se i 941'suitblysupportedindependently/ofthe `,Vdeolg ,With-1a suitable Apointer ror indicator 98.'V which :eop'eretesl i; with i a l Agraduated are 1 alltisoope, ias* loyv a, bracket 195k. V raising. from 'the-'oororfdeck V17.1 f

, VIV-In?operzitioirne torpedo Vhailing -def lpos'ited in the ltorpedoftube 22, s'heretoifore explained, the vrswitch-or button 85 1soperi-nto discharging positoniaS s'hown n'full linesl in Figfl )The switch' "e or louttonl 492-li's f their operated to *causethel altiscope` and f 1 v enti'` j r 1 oradleto be'turned-nntilthe.;desired-target '.wated toturn'the altisoope-proper 52 upon v AL I' `its trunnonsldn order. .to vloring Saldtar? n get into aline'mentwiththe.horizontalieross i feo',

hair ofo-the instrument, lthe adjustment of target,E vits lepeed:v oftrevelfhavng. .been de-V Y ."pliedf turning the :eltisonoev ndgycradle ,theY j #necessuy; amount, such re-adj u'stin'efn't V*being conveniently indient-edi upon] vthe graduated VV,ine'rludefs aasuitable buttonlorswitoh 599, g'el'so l"2y;.@veggeipprovided geen; topped@ Amery e vcomprisingfiour unitslof-theLcliereotergabove" f deseribedimdemipgnach; gf @Maumee-@0m f turret's, shown; being-*located -etfeehjfsde ofthe Ykeelll'." llt will befseenithat'seahftur 1 A 'eti-has en effective range for f sweep through Y horizontelpangleof approximately; f fb ing-dimitedonlyrlloygthef'p'ositionlzo fithe eeorlloedy feedgtulb adapted opA *moed ley-said@ 'moved rel'fnt've tin,toeeufnrl outrofdisch :5. e* structureJ l, of the .-lolizureter.,def f. slcriloe'dyzt Yerticavll-yinoieblegtulet jorcradle provided with yet!`torpedo-.l3ulmefa;1rotatable o Vostern bygiwliiclifSaid;turret-orfCradle is oar-V fried, a rotatable; g lout; V:vertically 'stationery' -eltisoope forsg 'InFiglf lliis :dgrammatioally illustrated pc'nnectedior rotation unison. f o

irrespective of the position :off the I vessel.

' Preferably-each aro. ,9.41Will be sogreduatjed asrto' indicate .ftheVV possible sweep of the oor,- responding turretso toprevent accidental :discharge of. larrtorpeclo et' improper or 11 granilnztt'really illustrated zit-ptirV oj'torpedo l. .racks or carriere, 10Q,IWherfeloythe4 torpedoes e may Yloe conveniently ,presentedj fto, the looks 27- ortheinsertontlierethrougli into the Y torpedo Y .I'laving thuedesrileed myl invention l Claim; and; desire ktonv {eeourej by` kLetters 'Petl. YA"Struct.. effofi-thie character "deSorbef-l Y profdedf With e "torpe dotube,' nieztns Withinvseid'- strueture f0.1? loedngf'seid torpedo tube, Y end-means lfopfSilpfpovrtifple31S,oid tube adepted'gto' permit. the-isen'ietofbe moved,Y from; a o -poetioli' vedjeoent!Seidfflooding (means -nto dieohztrginggpositiolf-exterior togesapiol Struof s ture., o

Y roV-ideol o, liztniber or: rou ging ,open tothe ,Wetpeflo. o tube, Land. Ineens, ntot?? Support: 4pedo ftilbe 'adopted ,to'rpelzlu't the i raised end lowered nto'enfd. out ofvseeloohembepox housing- A Weflzveeeelf .provided Hin t With o ohemloer orhouS-,g fopen 4.t

. b 1 e v Strooture .lgllole to means lieiefor, nd* ineen 4 Y'he `'suppopting.

-gstruoture al loading hiel;V u l1i1i5Sa'id struo- Y 166:? Y. Y. A o

lock.

edo; ,tub-e1 Sighting v l rfidrfleocikibeingfelaevely; rto'en' Qutziof axelelinement; Y e liareoter .def dia-5a torpedo-lube exterior :to vSaidV YlOl niiet .th-elsainefto endeoufeof; seid meto-abe f Y' lll lli

Y -ing'Seid torpedo tube, Said eltisoopelliaingf ey spindle. teleseoping- With vseid stem, endisedispndle '24ndV stem' being n' n iai i .iirxopies of this patent may be obtained for j into and out of axial alinement with said lock.

" ."9. `In a structure of the character described, a torpedo tube, a loading lock com `municating therewith, gates for closing the opposite ends of said lock, and common operating mechanism for said gates.

10. In a structure ofthe character dee municating therewith, gates for closing the opposite ends of said lock, `levers for operating `said gates and a double-faced cam wha-ving grooves for operating said levers re- "spectively.

: lll The combination with a torpedo tube, a loading lock communicating therewith, and agate for controlling such communication, of an arm pivoted to said lock, a stop pin carried by said arm and passing through "thewall of said lock, a spring coperating with said arm for withdrawing said pin "from the interior of said lock, and a projection on said gate coperating with said arm to move said pin into said lock.

12. The combination with a torpedo tube p and loading means therefor, of a chamber or housing for said torpedo tube, and a stop in said chamber for limiting the movement of a torpedo inserted into said tube.

13. The combination with a torpedo tube and a loading lock communicating therefwith, of agate for closing the inner end of said lock, and an expelling rod passing `through said gate for moving a torpedo `fromsaid lock into said tube. 14C. The combination-with a torpedo tube and a loading lock communicating therei with, of a gate for closing the inner end of `said lock, a fitting carried by said gate and provided with a sleeve communicating with i i the interiorlof said lock, a valve in said tting for controlling such communication, an f expelling rod passing through said sleeve, and packing rings in said sleeve adapted to `scribed, a torpedo tube, a loading lock com-l make substantially water-tight joints with said rod.

15. A war vessel provided at its bottom with dirigible means for determining the course of a torpedo and sightin means operatively connected therewith or control- Vling the sameV and extending above said vessel.

16. A war vessel provided at its bottom with dirigible means for determining the course of a torpedo and sighting means operatively connected therewith for controlling the same and extending above said vessel, said sighting means being operable from the interior of said vessel.

17. A war vessel provided at its bottom with a dirigible torpedo tube mounted to Aturn on a substantially vertical axis and an altiscope connected with said torpedo tube, extending above said vessel, and mounted to turn on an axis coincident with said firstnamed axis. l

18. In an apparatus of the character described, an altiscope having a hollow base provided with a platform, a floor or deck having an upright journal on which said base is rotatably mounted, a track on said floor or deck, and rollers carried by said platform and running on said track.-

19. In a structure of the character described, in combination, a turret or cradle provided with a torpedo tube, a rotatable stem by which said turret or cradle is carried, an altiscope having a hollow base provided with a platform, a ioor or deck having a hollow upright journal on which said base is rotatably mounted, a track on said floor or deck and rollers carried by said platform and running on said track, said altiscope having a spindle extending downwardly through said hollow journal and telescoping with said stem, and said spindle and stem being connected for rotation in unison.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD H. GOLDSBOROUGH. Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CALvnR, Roer. E. P. KREITER.

ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

